Retired Judge Killed In South Philly House Fire

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Authorities say an 86-year-old retired Philadelphia judge was found dead after a fire at his home Sunday evening.

The fire broke out around 7 p.m. at the man’s home on the 2500 block of South 20th Street.

According to officials, the fire started on the first floor of the home and quickly spread to the second and third floor. The victim’s body was found about a half hour later in the living room, after the fire was extinguished.

Authorities are not releasing the victim’s name, but District Attorney Seth Williams was at the scene and told CBS3 Eyewitness News off camera that it was his good friend Anthony DeFino, who, according to sources, spent 19 years as a judge for the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court before his retirement in 2007.

Officials say a woman was also home during the fire. She was able to escape and is currently being treated at the hospital. No other injuries were reported.